Why would she risk stranding herself in our realm once the portals closed? They would, within minutes. I could still feel mine and Michel's combined joining Light seeping into the world, seeking all of those portals to Faerie, beginning the process of closing them once and for all. It was what the Champion had wanted, above all else. It was the reason why she had agreed to this ceremony tonight.
The Champion had taken a risk all for the chance - the possibility - of our joining Light being powerful enough to close the accessways to and from Álfheimr. Her risk had paid off, but I don't think she had anticipated the Dökkálfa turning up at the last second to seek revenge. That's the only reason why I could imagine Sofiq being here, which meant she'd be seeking revenge on me and Michel too. We were the ones who had entered into that alliance with her, ensuring the portals would remain open no matter what.
And we were about to fail, which meant... I'd be taken to Álfheimr, to the Dökkálfa Royal Court in fact. Something that was about to happen, there was no stopping it now.
But before it did, we had a fight on our hands.
My Svante sword was in my grip before the shimmering air around the fairies solidified. I searched the crowd for my Tego Texi Tectum duo, wanting them to be close in order to nullify and fairy magic in the air, but I was already too late. As soon as the fairies had arrived they'd surrounded Sergei and Nataliya, before any of us could get our bearings, could figure out what was actually happening, they'd thrown glittering golden web-like blankets over the top of each vampire. Whatever the strange ethereal fabrics did, they contained my shields and allowed fairy magic to reign supreme.
Lightning crackled in the air, flashing across the ceiling. The large Council Chamber had several pillars supporting the upper floor rimming the edges, but the only other decorations were the three over-sized chandeliers hanging down the centre of the room. The rest of the vast space was filled with battling vampires and Dökkálfa. Crystal shattering added to the cacophony of noises filling the air, as a chandelier crashed to the ground pinning three vampire Iunctio guards at once. Thunder rolled across the room, mixed in with grunts and shouts and the clang on clang of metal. Sword against sword, dagger against shield, vampire against fairy. Chaos ruled and in the melee I lost sight of Michel and found myself battling a green Hyrða guard.
He was dressed in the obligatory Dökkálfa black, chain-mail of some description covering his torso, making it difficult for me to land an effective blow. His curved blade swiping out and managing to slash a small gash in my upper arm. In amongst the ozone smell of disturbed fairy air and the singe of lightning, the metallic scent of my blood filled the air.
Ma douce? Are you all right? Michel's voice rang out in alarm in my mind. He'd smelled my blood, although I couldn't see him and he no doubt couldn't see me, he'd been aware I had been injured. The Bond making our connection that much closer, despite the distraction of a battle raging within these closed walls.
I'm fine, just a flesh wound, I replied, spinning around the back of the Hyrða and slicing off his head. Bile rose up my throat as he crumpled to the floor. Fairies don't disintegrate into a convenient pile of dust like a vampire does when killed. No, you're left with the evidence of your handiwork. Not a pretty sight.
I sucked in a breath through my mouth and turned to face the next attacker. This one blue, not green, so not a Hyrða guard, but by the looks of his hooked claws and the razor sharp row of teeth, equally as deadly. Of course, physical mauling is not the only way a Dökkálfa fairy can kill you.
I struggled to determine what emotion he was feeding off. I rifled through my increasingly foggy mind to find that emotion he had chosen. It wasn't love, although thinking of my kindred automatically made me feel unbelievable love, but I hadn't been thinking of him right then. It most certainly wasn't hope either. Right now all hope was lost. I couldn't see us winning this, I couldn't see anything other than the portals closing and my captivity in Álfheimr. So hope was out.
But I was feeling fear in large enough quantities to entice a member of Dökkálfa and also courage was competing for attention too. I am a Nosferatin, a born vampire hunter. I may not be fighting a rogue vampire right now, but I was fighting for my life, so everything that makes me what I am was in full force. Including my courage in the face of probable death. I couldn't stop my courage, it is ingrained in me, it is a part of my very soul. But I could contain, control my fear. And pray that was the emotion this fairy fed on right now.
I grabbed hold of my Light, I let it swell inside me, expand and fill me up. It pushed all fear aside, it comforted and encouraged, supported and convinced me that I was capable of taking this fairy fucker down. My Light is more powerful than the Dark, something that took me a long time to recognise. But events have proven again and again just how powerful my Light can be. I don't doubt it now. It is formidable. And a Dark fairy sucking on my fear can go to hell.
The fairy stumbled, shuddered and then quickly slashed down with both his clawed hands. I swallowed my relief at him having been feeding off the right emotion and swung my Svante up to meet his downward strokes. Sparks flew off the blade as his claws slashed against it. A fingernail-down-chalkboard sound ringing out in the space around us. He screamed in fury, having had his meal cut off and his claws clipped, and then flew at me in a blinding rage.
I couldn't raise my sword in time to prevent the collision, maybe he'd walked through space to get on top of me so quickly, but whatever reason his body ploughed into mine and we went tumbling backwards. My head hit the marble floor hard, flashes of black spots against a bright white background sparked in front of my eyes and a grunt was forced from my lips. My lungs felt crushed, I tried to draw another breath in, but nothing happened. All I could do, in stunned horror, was fend off his strikes. Blood began to pour off my forearms as they met his claws again and again. Pain radiated up each arm and smashed into my head, which had already been throbbing. I felt my vision begin to blur. I knew I only had moments before I lost consciousness and being pulled through the last portal to Álfheimr would then be a moot point.
But no matter what I did, I couldn't stop the relentless attack. My arms were shredded and he'd started making progress on my chest. The straps of my Svante's sheath and those on the dress I was wearing directly beneath them were being torn apart and finally he connected with flesh. I screamed as his curved claws wrenched at my skin, the tip of one going deep enough to knick bone. I increased my efforts to fend him off, but they were futile. Strength was leaving me, the world was turning evermore black and time was running out.
I tried one last attempt to budge him with my Light, it blasted woefully pathetically into his chest, but it was enough for me to push him off and scramble backward. But I was only delaying the inevitable. He recovered, crouched ready to pounce. And then a fairy stepped between us and brought down his sword hard.
I watched, clinging on to consciousness with bitter determination. I would see my death coming, I would not seep into the Night without looking my killer in his eyes. The silver of his hair swirled around his perfect facial features like a halo, the grimace on his face one of utter focused resolve. And within seconds he'd killed the blue fairy and spun back to face me.
"Princess," Aliath said as he took in my wounds. He frowned and muttered a word I couldn't understand under his breath. "You need to get out of here, before another attacks. I cannot be seen fighting my own kin."
I blinked slowly at him, trying to puzzle through his words, but they just felt like annoying buzzing mosquitoes in the air between us. They didn't make any sense at all.
"What?" I said unintelligently.
He sighed. "The Queen intends to kill you. If she kills you, then your power being used by the Iunctio to close the portals will be no more. No power, no closure of the portals."
His words were making it through the veil of pain, I tried to sit up and groaned in agony. Every inch of torn flesh seemed to scream at me to stop. Aliath slipped an arm around my shoulders and offered some support
. He ran a hand over my body, muttered more indecipherable words in Fey and then most of the pain disappeared. I was still bloody, the slashes of ripped flesh now no more than minor cuts.
I didn't thank him, I was in enough trouble not to add debt on top.
"What about the charm?" I asked, letting Aliath help me to my feet. I bent down gingerly and retrieved my sword.
"The charm is irrelevant to her. It was merely an incentive to you and Michel, encouragement for you to keep the portals open at all costs. She would rather your death than your imprisonment in Álfheimr." It made sense, but the portals were still closing and if she didn't kill me - here's hoping - then I'd be under her tender hospitable care. Not good.
"Then I guess we kill her," I said and watched as Aliath's face shut down. I frowned at him, but he didn't offer an explanation to his expression, just continued to hold my gaze.
And then I realised why. The battle was still raging around us, like a storm hell bent on total destruction. But the fighting of vampire on fairy was superficial to what was really important right now. Samson, my vampire, was kneeling in front of the Queen, his head back, his arms wide and a mixture of emotions washing over his face.
I took a shaky step toward him and Aliath clamped a hand down hard on my arm.
"He is honouring our bargain, Princess. Do not interfere."
I wrenched my arm out of the Grey Lord's hand, glared at him for good measure and started moving through the crowded room in order to reach them. I would not let Samson sacrifice himself for me. I knew he was holding up his end of an agreement with Aliath. Aliath had already performed his part, so payment was due. But, I had never agreed to this. I wouldn't have, not in a million years. Samson was mine to protect. I had balanced his Dark with my Light. He wore my Sigillum, the mark of the Lux Lucis Tribuo. He was mine and I would not let him walk this Dark path.
I had to fend off a few attackers, the effort required almost too much. But my Light was blazing and whether it was the fear of what it could do, the shock of seeing it shine around my body, or the fact that it strengthened me and made it impossible for any fairy to land a harmful blow, I don't know. But despite my display of power, my determination to reach Samson's side, the going was slow. Like walking through a huge waterfall, I struggled against the flow and could see, through a veil of distortion ahead, what was happening to Samson and Sofiq.
Samson was pale, whiter than I had ever seen my vampire. His blond hair hung limply around his washed out face, a grimace of pain etched his forehead with deep lines. His chocolate brown eyes flashed taupe and cinnamon. Courage, hope, fear and love displayed clearly on his visage. I knew who he was thinking of, in order to feel all four emotions at once. And if she were here right now, I was certain she would fight to the death to protect him too. Gigi may have had problems admitting her feelings for Samson, but even the Nothus would not have been able to bear what I was seeing right now.
No one could not be affected by his depth of emotion. By the range of his feelings for the girl he desired. I had wondered if one person could feel all four of the emotions the Dökkálfa fed from at once, but right now, in front of my very eyes, I saw the truth. True love and the adversities surrounding the achievement of it. Samson felt every one.
And Sofiq, like any Dökkálfa faced with a smorgasbord of delicacies, was unable to deny herself a taste. I'm not sure what had happened before I'd become aware of the exchange, but it was obviously enough to distract Sofiq, to allow her to lower her guard. Because even the Dökkálfa are not stupid and feeding off all four emotions at once could kill. If Sofiq was worried about lethally harming herself, she didn't show it at all. Greed graced her delicate features. Her silver hair swishing and floating around her head. She raised her hands, stretched out toward Samson and smiled a smile of pure delight. Samson shuddered and collapsed forward onto all fours, panting, despite not needing any air. Sweat dripped off his luminous skin, small tremors shook down his spine.
I knew it wouldn't take much longer and Samson would be no more. But I saw his hand wrapped around a knife, slender but long and wickedly sharp. He intended to stab her while she was distracted with her feeding, but his strength was failing and I was sure he no longer stood a chance.
I have some steadfast rules. I only kill with my Light when under direction of my Goddess. Rogue vampires hunting on innocents, taking their lives deserve to die. And the only other time I would consider taking the life of another, is if I am under attack and about to be harmed or killed, or if one of mine falls to the same fate. I may not have considered myself capable of killing Sofiq without reason, but Samson was about to die at her hands. Enough. I wouldn't let this happen. He may have trapped her into harming him, but she didn't have to take the bait.
I picked up speed, thrusting elbows into still battling vampires, pushing them out of the way. The odd Svante swing to cause a fairy to back off and let me through and the pulsing of my Light heralding my approach. Not only did it scare the hell out of the fairies I was trying to get through, but it also let Sofiq know I was near. Her attention switched from Samson, who had collapsed now, barely conscious on the floor. She staggered as the effects of feeding on all four emotions took hold, her face faltered at the realisation of her mistake. Fear skittered across her features, followed by outright indignation.
I took my advantage, I slashed out with my Light. She raised a hand and batted it away, but fell to one knee with the effort she'd used. Her guards circled her, swords drawn and ready to defend. I raised another hand and blithely fired Light bolt after Light bolt at each of their chests. They fell like dominoes, one after the other in such quick succession it was impossible to track. Finally I stood before her, her guards writhing on the floor in abject pain. Useless, unable to lift a finger to stop my murderous approach.
She smiled slowly at me, pain evident in her stance, but a regal determination strengthening her resolve.
"Lucinda, Princess of Ljósálfar, I have been waiting for you," she said conversationally and before she could act, I struck.
My Light met her Light, twisting together, entwining like rope. The strands sparked and writhed in the air between us, flashes of Light arcing off the bright cord that connected us. Pain lanced through my body, but I was sure she wasn't fairing much better. I felt the floor meet my knees, bringing me down to her height and I realised a second too late, just how powerful the Queen of the Dark Fairies actually was.
The Fey are not of this world, they come from another realm. They are not constrained by our known parameters, they are not obliged to fit in an existing box. I know how powerful the Dark can be. I know my Light is stronger. But I had truly not known what a fairy could do, or maybe it was just Sofiq. I guess you only become Queen of your people if you are the strongest. In mind, body and soul. The twisting rope of Light before me grew brighter, but I knew it wasn't because of me. Despite her weakened state, from feeding off four emotions at once, she was winning.
I'd walked willingly into her trap. Had she known what she was doing when she took Samson up on his offer? Did she know she'd still be strong enough when I came to his rescue, as I was most certainly going to do? Sofiq had played us, even Aliath had believed it would be possible. And now I understood why my fairy acquaintance had not taken on the deed himself. Sofiq was terrible in her power, tremendous and frightening all at once.
The pain inside my body grew, my hold on my Light becoming treacherously weak. As soon as I let it go, she'd storm my shields, what little of them remained. I held on as long as I could, knowing the end was near and just praying the portals closed first. A bubble of hysterical laughter threatened to breach my pursed lips. I wanted the portals to close, but then it would only delay the inevitable. I'd be in the Dökkálfa Royal Court and Sofiq would certainly win.
It was a lose-lose situation and time was running out. All that was left to be seen was which hourglass emptied first. The end of my life here in Earth's realm, or the portals closing and my death in Álfheimr.
I tried to send a thought to Michel, to apologise for my mistakes, to tell him that I loved him and I'd see him in Elysium. But I couldn't find the words, I couldn't even find the connection through the pain. And then as all hope left me, a shadow shifted to my side. I struggled to focus on who it was. Michel? One of my guards? Aliath showing his hand at last?
It was none of those, it was the last person on Earth I had expected any help from. But then she wouldn't want my death. My death would mean the portals remained open and the Champion couldn't have that. Besides, my Goddess had ensured she'd come to my aid at the end.
The petite vampire took advantage of Sofiq's distraction and weakened state and battered her squarely in the chest with a concentrated blast of Sanguis Vitam. The fairy screamed, stopped attacking me and turned her attention on the new threat. Sanguis Vitam like I had never seen before spewed forth from the Champion and met the wrath of the Fairy Queen. Thunder rolled, lightning struck the floor at our sides and then the Champion stepped forward, her hands clenched at her sides, eyes blazing an unnatural blinding blue rimmed in red.
Her final shot of Sanguis Vitam tore through Sofiq's neck, severing her head from her shoulders, but not before the Dökkálfa Queen released a bolt of lightning directly at the Champion's chest. The smell of blood and burnt flesh assailed my nostrils and as I rolled over numbly I watched the leader of the Iunctio fall to her knees. A look of pure shock crossed her features and then was quickly replaced with a grimace of pain. I stared in utter disbelief at the perfect hole in her chest. It went right through to her back and was large enough to see vampires stunned on the other side.
She swayed for a few seconds and then crumpled to the floor, but not before Michel had reached her and caught her in his arms. A small part of me was surprised he hadn't come directly to me, but then I wasn't mortally wounded, his leader, the vampire who had been in charge of the Nosferatu for centuries, was. She was dying and even with her unbelievable amount of Sanguis Vitam and access to the Iunctio's combined power, even if she was to drain a dozen humans of their blood right now, it could not be stopped.
Entwined With the Dark Page 42
